Holy See Laments Terrorist Attacks in Dahab

VATICAN CITY, APRIL 25, 2006 (Zenit.org).- A Holy See official expressed "profound grief and sadness" over the triple bombing in the Egyptian resort city of Dahab that killed at least 18 people.

Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers, relayed his condolences in a telegram to Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, apostolic nuncio in Cairo.

Archbishop Marchetto expressed his distress over the terrorist tragedy "which has caused the loss of many human lives and serious wounds of many innocent, among them numerous tourists."

"With faith we address our common prayers to the Omnipotent and Merciful Lord, so that he will grant eternal rest to the victims and fortitude and courage to those who have been stricken by mourning and suffering," said the Italian prelate.

He also expressed his "heartfelt solidarity to all those who will have to face the consequences of this blow against the Egyptian tourist industry, very important in the country's economy."

The explosions on Monday struck a supermarket, a restaurant and a cafeteria in the Sinai resort.

"The attack in Dahab has been firmly condemned by the international community and from Gaza came immediately the condemnation of the Palestinian government headed by Hamas," reported L'Osservatore Romano.

"The sinister shadow of terrorism again extends over the world," said the Vatican semiofficial newspaper. "Criminal projects that -- as Benedict XVI stressed in his message for the World Day of Peace -- 'are often the fruit of a tragic and disturbing nihilism.'"